Iowa State’s newest linebacker commit loves to have fun.
When fans click on Jack Sadowsky’s Twitter account, one of the first videos they will see is a clip of the 6-foot-2, 230-pound prospect doing a 315-pound hang clean in pajama pants.
“That’s his goofball,” Batavia High School defensive coordinator Matt Holm said. “I make fun of it all the time. I’m like ‘you’ve gotta be who you are, but for crying out loud can you not wear pajama pants to work out?’ He’s like, ‘Coach, this is how I do it.’ He’s a guy that likes to have fun.”
His fun-loving mentality played a big part in how Sadowsky helped his team to a 10-1 record during his junior season.
He’s a glue guy that keeps the intensity of the program in check.
“He definitely keeps things from getting too intense,” Holm said. “We’re pretty intense coaches and the program is pretty intense – we like to think that’s the reason it’s successful, but you kind of need someone to break things up a bit. He fits into that mold.”
Sadowsky made the transition to middle linebacker last summer after the pandemic postponed his sophomore season to the spring.
There, Sadowsky got his first steps into learning the defense.
“He was brought up (to varsity) as a sophomore,” Holm said. “That actually was a good thing for him, because he got to understand the defense more. We had him playing defensive end and got to understand the concept of what we were running.”
“All summer, he made the transition to middle linebacker. He has the size of a defensive end. He has that reach and can move (well), but he’s also got an intimidating pass rush. He’s kind of a jack of all trades there.”
Holm marveled at the work and preparation he has seen Sadowsky put in.
He’s gained weight as well as transition into the model of player that his team needs ahead of his senior year this fall.
“For the size that he has playing inside linebacker, it’s really interesting,” Holm said. “He really had to work on flexibility in his hips, his speed and different movements. He spends an incredible amount of time in the weight room and working on his hips in between lifts. Watching him prepare is an exciting thing.”
Sadowsky will get his first look on the field at Iowa State next year, but until then, he’ll be having a good time while he prepares to take the next step in front of him.
“He’s having a good time because he’s having fun playing football,” Holm said. “That’s Jack.”
